Column fluting roller mechanism



June 1, 1954 H. GUTHMANN 2,679,885

COLUMN FLUTING ROLLER MECHANISM Original Filed March 16, 1949 Fig./

Fig. 2

Hans Gufhm ann IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 1, 195 4 COLUMN FLUTING ROLLER MECHANISM Hans Guthmann, Pasadena, Md.

Original application March 16, 1949, Serial No. 81,698, now Patent No. 2,568,730, dated September 25, 1951. Divided and this application August 1, 1951, Serial No. 239,803

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fluting machines and more particularly pertains to a roller mechanism disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 81,698, filed March 16, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,568,- 730, issued September 25, 1951, of which this is a division.

An important object of the present invention isto provide a machine for fluting metal columns including a plurality of radially movable roller units for pressing against a metal column so that groups or recesses of a predetermined depth may .be formed in the column.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluting roller unit and a hydraulic cylinder and piston mechanism for operating the same.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the present invention, parts being broken away, and showing in use the apparatus of my prior patent of which the instant invention forms a part;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional View of the hydraulic control means for the fluting rollers which constitute the invention claimed hereinafter; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of the apparatus of which the roller mechanism of Figure 2 forms an essential component. The apparatus itself is set forth in detail and is claimed in my prior above identified patent, and the structure and operation of the apparatus has been disclosed in the present application with only suflicient detail to provide a clear understanding of the environment in Which the roller mechanism claimed herein is primarily intended for use. The same numerals are employed to identify the same elements in the present application and in my prior patent.

Referring now to Figure 1, which is a duplicate of Figure 1 of my prior above identified patent, a support including a pair of parallel H-beams or I-beams 42 rises from a base construction 26. A carriage i8 is mounted for vertical, guided movement on the beams 42 under the control of a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston unit. The latter includes a cylinder 54 secured to and carried by a cross-head 46 mounted upon the 2 beams 42, the cylinder 53 having a member 80 slidable therein, upon the lower end of which is secured the carriage 48.

Depending from the carriage 48 is an elongated and tapering, fluted cylindrical mandrel I0 upon which the flutin of an elongated sheet metal column I 2 is to be performed.

The base construction includes a plurality of horizontally disposed fluting roller units positioned radially about the axis of the mandrel II], which latter is movable vertically therebetween. These roller units press the material of the column i2 into the flutes of the mandrel III upon vertical travel of the mandrel and column between the fluting roller units to thus form flutes in the column. The means for controllin the pressure upon the roller units is set forth in my prior patent, forms no part of the invention claimed herein, and further discussion thereof appears to be unnecessary.

These units which are of identical construction, constitute the invention claimed hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 2, each of the fluting roller units comprises a cylindrical open-ended guide casing Mil secured to and formin a part of the base construction 25, in which is slidably received a cylindrical slide I42 Which rotatably supports a flute forming roller I 34 having beveled edges.

I'he guide cylinders Mil have outer flanges to which are secured, by means of bolts and nuts I58, inner and outer end flanges or plates I52 and I54 which are thus removably secured to the opposite open ends of the cylinders I56.

The end flanges or plates I52 and Hit are centrally apertured to slidably receive tubular piston rods I that support piston heads I62. The piston heads I62 (see Figure 3) support flexible, channel-shaped sealing rings I65 on both their faces that will expand during movement of the piston rods I69 and piston heads I62 to prevent a fluid within the cylinders I56 from passing between the inner peripheries of the cylinders I56 and the outer peripheries of the piston heads I62.

Rings I66 are provided on the inner faces of the end plates I52 and I54 and are spaced from the outer peripheries of the piston rods IEO. Flexible, channel-shaped sealin rings I68 bear against the inner faces of the end plates I52 and I54 and are disposed between the outer peripheries of the piston rods I60 and the rings I66 to prevent a fluid within the cylinders I56 from passin between piston rods I69 and the end plates I52 and I54 and outwardly of the cylinders I59 and further flexible sealing rings i6! are received in channels I69 provided in the rings I66 and bear against the cylinders I56.

Rods I10 are received in the piston rods I60 and are threaded to the slides I42. The outer head ends I72 of the rods I10 abut the outer ends of the piston rods I50 so that the rods H0 and slides I42 will be moved with the piston rods I66.

The outer ends of the piston rods I60 are threaded to receive adjustable stops or nut I'M that will engage the end plates I54 to limit the inward sliding movement of the members I42.

Each of the cylinders 15E is provided with a pair of combined inlet and outlet ports, not shown, that are connected by branch pipes I18 to a supply and control system of any desired character such as that indicated generally by the numeral IBI.

By the selective application of fluid pressure from the system IBI to the opposite sides of the piston 162, for example in the manner set forth and described in my above identified prior patent, it will be evident that the fluting rollers can be moved inwardly 0r outwardly to control the fluting operation, and the extent of the inward movement of the rollers can be adjusted by the adjusting nut Ht.

An important feature of the invention is the manner in which the parts can be conveniently serviced for inspection or replacement of the leather rings used or the other parts, and in this regard, it is noted that the sealing rings will expand or spread in response to an internal pres- Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fluting roller unit comprising an open ended casing having a flanged outer end, a cylinder having inner and outer end plates, means securing the end plates to the flanged portion, a tubular piston rod extending axially through the cylinder and centrally through the end plates and including inner and outer ends, a roller holding slide received in the casing and engaged by the inner end of said piston rod, a rod element 86- cured to the slide and extending completely axially through the piston rod and having an outer enlarged end disposed outwardly from the outer end of the piston rod, a piston head fixed on the rod and disposed within the cylinder, fluid pressure means connected to the cylinder for moving the piston within the cylinder, and an adjustable stop nutthreaded on the outer end of the piston rod engageable with the outer end plate to limit sliding movement of the piston rod relative to the cylinder.

2. The combination of claim 1 and sealing means carried by each of said end plates engaging the inner periphery of said cylinder and the outer periphery of said piston rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,605,828 Frahm Nov. 2, 1926 1,659,166 Schroeder Feb. 14, 1928 2,568,730 Guthmann Sept. 25, 1951 

